From the Editors: UAE charity auction a success

UAE CHARITY AUCTION A SUCCESS: The generosity of the people of the UAE was once again brought to the fore on Saturday night, as an astounding Dh36.673 million was raised in a charity auction. The event was held to raise funds for the UAE’s 100 million meals campaign, which aims to feed disadvantaged individuals and families in 30 countries. The campaign has already achieved its primary goal of raising Dh100 million for the purpose, and contributions are still pouring in. This will go a long way towards alleviating the conditions of those less fortunate. [COMMENT BY: Somshankar Bandyopadhyay, Assistant Editor]

LEAKED IRAN TAPE CONFIRMS WHAT EVERYONE KNEW: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has been caught on tape saying what everyone already knew: That the Revolutionary Guard call the shots in Iran, overruling government decisions and ignoring advice. He is even heard saying Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Guard’s elite Quds Force who was assassinated by the US in 2020, undermined him at many steps. That has always been the problem in Iran; the real decision makers are hardliners who are implacable and see the region from a military perspective. Rather than engage neighbours diplomatically, they seem hell-bent on interefering in the affairs of neighbouring states with a focus on sabotaging them. Unless the internal situation changes in Iran, the country is likely to pursue policies that are damaging to the region - and to itself. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

UK, GERMANY AND US PROMISE AID TO INDIA: For the fifth consecutive day, India's new coronavirus infections hit a record peak. Cases have risen to 352,991 as hospitals continue to turn away patients because they simply do not have enough medication, oxygen or even space to treat them. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged citizens to get vaccinated and to continue to wear masks and try to keep social distancing while Britain, Germany and the US have pledged to send urgent medical aid along with raw materials for vaccines and protective gear to help. But many more countries will have to follow suit if India, a country with a colossal 1.3 billion population - out of which 17.31 million have had the virus - is to get out of this dire situation. [COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

MONEY CAN’T BEAT HEART WHEN IT COMES TO FOOTBALL: After a week of powering through Super League chaos and relentless talk of greed and profit share and news that certain clubs have a current price tag of 4 billion pounds (United, apparently)… viewers might have felt jaded with football. This journalist was certainly less inclined to switch it on. For a moment, it had felt tainted. Of course, sport is a business — a massive one, at that. Without money, it sinks. But direly needed was a reminder of what it’s all about. And that’s exactly what we got on Sunday evening, moments after Manchester City made history with their fourth Carabao cup win in a row. A tender moment of sportsmanship unfolded, as Spurs star Son Heung-min broke down in tears on the pitch and two of City’s big scorers this season, Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden, crouched by his side to console him instead of celebrating with their teammates. It was a sight for sore eyes – a display of passion and vulnerability from Son and empathy and understanding from Gudogan and Foden. Despite the mixture of ridicule and sympathy from social media users (the usual), that one small, fleeting gesture felt comparatively priceless. [COMMENT BY: Marwa Hamad, Assistant Editor]

OSCARS 2021: A WIN FOR DIVERSITY AND CINEMA: Even a deadly pandemic couldn’t keep the best of Hollywood away from a unique Oscars that will go down in history as a win for diversity. Chloe Zhao made history winning best director for ‘Nomadland’, one of only two women to win this award and being the first female Asian to do so. ‘Minari’s Yuh-Jung Youn became the first Korean actor to win an Oscar, while ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ made Oscar history with all-Black producing team to be nominated. The film did score two wins, one for best supporting actor for Daniel Kaluuya and the other for best song that went to H.E.R. Whether or not the love for the awards will reflect in the television ratings, this historic event is definitely a win for Hollywood. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]